Palette and paint kit



Oct. 25, 1966 C- B- BONIFACE PALE'ITE AND PAINT KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1963 L I I I III I Ill/I INVENTOR CAROLINE B. BONIFACE vBY ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 c, o cE 3,280,966

PALETTE AND PAINT KIT Filed Sept. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CAROLINE B. BONIFACE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,280,966 PALETTE AND PAINT KIT Caroline B. Boniface, 4741 Libbit, Apt. 20, Encino, Calif. Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,655 9 Claims. (Cl. 2061.7)

This invention relates to a palette and paint kit combination in which the palette forms the top closure panel for the paint kit, said palette having a paint compartment in which paint can be permanently stored during transportation of the palette and kit combination.

Palettes generally comprise a flat board on which different colored paints are placed and mixed with a brush by the painter. The palette can have a thumb hole through which the thumb is placed to grip the palette, and the palette will rest upon the arm of the painter. Wlhen a painting period terminates, the palette ordinarily has to be cleaned 01f before it is stored or transported from one place to another since, otherwise, the paint on the palette would be brushed off and damage surrounding objects. This cleaning of the palette results in a waste of paint since new paint must be placed on the palette prior to commencing another painting period.

By the present invention, the palette is provided with a paint compartment which keeps the paints separated and which can be covered to permit carrying of paints from one place to another without removing the paints from the compartment. When the palette is in use, the paint compartment cover is removed and the paints can be mixed on another portion of the palette which can be wiped off prior to transportation of the palette and kit. The paint kit comprises a box which has storage spaces and which is closed by the palette, which forms the top of the kit. One space of the box is shaped to receive the paint compartment which projects downwardly into the box when the palette is assembled to close the box. Since the upper paint mixing surface of the palette is cleaned before assembly, the complete palette and kit can be safely transported. In a modified form of the invention, the under surface of the palette can be the paint mixing surface and the paint compartment will project above this surface when in use. Thus, the outside surface of the palette when assembled in the box will not be the paint surface and will always present an attractive appearance. Also, the reverse side of the lid from the paint compartment can be used as the paint mixing surface and the lid can be reversed to store the mixed paints in the compartment along with the paint.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a palette and paint kit combination in which the palette serves as a cover for the kit and a paint compartment is attached to the palette for carrying paint during transportation of the kit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a palette and paint kit combination in which the palette serves as the cover for the kit and has a covered paint compartment integral therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a palette and paint kit combination in which the palette serves as the cover for the kit, and paint is mixed on the lower side of the palette so that the upper side always presents an attractive appearance when secure-d to the kit.

These and other objects of the invention not specifically set forth below will become readily apparent from the accompanying description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the palette assembled to cover the kit;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the paint compartment covered by the compartment lid;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the compartment panel closing the opening in the side of the kit which receives the paint compartment;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the palette removed and the paint compartment lid almost removed;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention showing the paint compartment on the lower surface of the palette;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the modification showing the palette assembled on the kit; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section along line 77 of FIGURE 6 showing the paint compartment and lid therefor.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 14, the paint kit 10 comprises a container having sides 11 and 12, ends 13 and 14 and bottom 9. Partitions 15, 16 and 17 divide the interior of the kit into separate spaces 18, 19 and 20 for storing brushes, paint, cleaning materials, etc., and provides a space 21 for receiving the paint compartment through opening 22 in end 13 in a manner later to be described. The upper edges of side panels 11 and 12 are provided with ridges 24 and 25, respectively, and a carrying handle 26 is secured to end 13.

The top of kit 10 is closed by the palette 30 which comprises a paint blending surface 31 and a paint compartment 32 which .has a curved bottom 33 continuous with the surface 31. The compartment is divided into separate spaces by partitions 34 and top edges 35 and 36, defining the compartment opening, have projections 37 and 38, respectively, which form longitudinal groove guides for the edges of compartment lid 39. The back ends 37a and 38a of the grooves (see FIGURE 4) are closed so that the lid, when fully inserted against the closed ends, will just cover the compartment as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Edge 36 has a curved portion 40 which forms a groove for slidably receiving the ridge 25 on side panel 12. In a similar manner, edge 41 of surface 31 is curved to form a groove for slidably receiving the ridge 27- on side panel 11.

As the palette 30 is slid over the kit 10 to provide a top cover, the compartment 32 moves through the opening 22 in end 13 into space 21 and a front panel 42 serves to snugly close opening 22 when the palette is fully assembled. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, edge 43 of panel 42 extends to cover the cutaway edge portion 44 of side panel 12 so that a fiush corner structure results.

The palette and kit fully assembled are illustrated in FIGURE 1 as a compact carrying case. When it is desired to paint, the palette is removed from the kit and the lid 10 is removed from compartment 32 so that paints can be placed in the various sections of the compartment. Thereafter, the palette can be supported by placing a thumb through opening 45 and the paints can be mixed on the surface 31 of the palette. At the termination of painting, the surface 31 is thoroughly cleaned and the lid 34 is replaced to cover the paints in the compartment. The palette is then attached to the kit and the complete device can be transported by handle 26 without danger of smearing paint. Since the paints can be stored in the compartment 32, they can be used at the next painting session and thus eliminate the necessity of having to start with a newly dispensed supply of paints, as is necessary when the usual plain palette is utilized.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 57, the same kit 10 is utilized with a modified palette which comprises a surface 51 and a paint compartment 52. Compartment sides 53 and 54 extend from surface 51 and terminate in grooves 55 and 56, respec-' 53 kit while compartment 32 of the prior embodiment opens at the top.

The back end panel 60 of the compartment contains an opening 61 for snugly receiving lip 62 on lid 57 when the lid 57 is fully inserted into grooves 55 and 56 to cover compartment 52. The front panel 63 of the compartment is identical in shape to panel 42 of the prior embodiment so that it will snugly close space 22 and overlap edge 44 of side panel 12. The side edges 65 and 66 of the palette are curved to form grooves for ridges 24 and 25, respectively, and since the compartment 52 is substantially the same size as compartment 32, the modified palette can be slid into kit 10 with compartment 52 being received by space 21.

When it is desired to paint, the palette 50 is removed from kit 10 and turned over into the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, and the lid 57 is then removed for access to paint in compartment 52. The lid can be reversed to direct the lip 62 upward in FIGURE and paint can be applied to the surface of the reversed lid after the lid is reinserted in the grooves 55 and 56. When the painting is terminated, the lid 57 is again removed and turned over so that lip 62 again projects downwardly in FIGURE 5 and in this position, the lid can be reassembled to cover the compartment 52 without removing the mixed paint on the lid surface. In other words, the paint on the lid surface will pass through opening 6 1 into the compartment. The lip 62 will close the opening 61 and will be held in closed condition when the palette is reversed and again secured to the kit since the lip will be against the end panel 14. Thus, in the modified form of the invention, the reverse side of the pallette is utilized and the paint compartment lid can be utilized for mixing. Therefore, the outer pallet-te surface will remain free of paint. While in the prior embodiment, the outer surface is the mixing surface which has to be cleaned after painting and any remaining paint stain will be visible to impair the appearance. A saving in paint can also result over the prior embodiment since the mixed paint on the mixing surface of the lid 62 can be saved.

It is understood that either modification can be constructed of various materials, preferably plastic. Also, va-rious attachment means can be utilized to attach the various parts together. Various other modifications are contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A palette and paint kit combination comprising:

a box structure for storing paint supplies and having an open top;

a top closure panel having a fiat palette surface and a paint compartment projecting therefrom;

means for covering said paint compartment to permit storage of paint therein;

closure means formed on said closure panel attaching said panel to said box structure and closing the open top thereof; and

a space in said box structure for receiving said paint compartment upon attachment of said closure panel.

2. A palette as defined in claim 1 wherein said structure has two sides and two ends, said closure means comprising means on the top edge of said two sides and on two edges of said closure panel for slidably attaching said closure panel to said box structure.

3. A palette as defined in claim 2 wherein one of said ends has an opening through which said compartment can move into said space.

4. A palette as defined in claim 1 wherein said covering means comprises a flat lid slidable in opposed grooves on said closure panel.

5. A palette as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartment projects below the flat surface of said closure panel and is open at the surface of said panel, said covering means being located substantially in the plane of said panel to cover the open top of the compartment.

6. A palette as defined in claim 5 wherein said covering means comprises a fiat lid slidable in opposed grooves located on said closure panel, said compartment being located along one side of said closure panel.

7. A palette as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartment projects below the top surface of said closure panel and is open at its bottom side, said covering means comprising a removable flat lid covering the open bottom of said compartment.

8. A palette as defined in claim 7 wherein said compartment has opposed grooves in the sides thereof slidably receiving said lid, said lid being reversible to provide a surface for paint when the under side of said closure panel is utilized as the palette surface, the paint on said lid being preserved by again reversing the lid to place the paint side within the compartment.

9. A palette comprising:

a flat surface;

a paint compartment located at one edge thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom;

said compartment being open at the lower side thereof displaced from the lower side of said fiat surface; and

a reversible cover for said open side upon which paint can be placed when the lower side of said surface is utilized as the palette surface;

the paint side of said reversible cover being placed inwardly of said compartment when said cover is assembled for transporting said palette.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,473,532 6/1949 Lazare 206--1.9 X 2,563,455 8/1951 Brown 2061.8 X 2,711,605 6/ 1955 Dripps 2061.7 2,718,722 9/1955 Barg 206-1.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 359,105 9/1922 Germany.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PALETTE AND PAINT KIT COMBINATION COMPRISING: A BOX STRUCTURE OF STORING PAINT SUPPLIES AND HAVING AN OPEN TOP; A TOP CLOSURE PANEL HAVING A FLAT PALETTE SURFACE AND A PAINT COMPARTMENT PROJECTING THEREFROM; MEANS FOR COVERING SAID PAINT COMPARTMENT TO PERMIT STORAGE OF PAINT THEREIN; CLOSURE MEANS FORMED ON SAID CLOSURE PANEL ATTACHING SAID PANEL TO SAID BOX STRUCTURE AND CLOSING THE OPEN TOP THEREOF; AND A SPACE IN SAID BOX STRUCTURE FOR RECEIVING SAID PAINT COMPARTMENT UPON ATTACHMENT OF SAID CLOSURE PANEL. 